(This dispatch was first published 26 October 2014)
Καλημέρα φίλοι μου, ας σταθούμε και να θυμάστε Gough,
Gough Whitlam was much loved and respected by the Warlpiri Nation.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0
Gough came to Yuendumu twice. The first time as Prime Minister.
In 2001 Gough and Margaret Whitlam came to Yuendumu to open the refurbished Yuendumu Old Peoples Programme (Mampu Maninja-Kurlangu Jarlu Patu-ku) building.
Gough’s lengthy speech was a dissertation on Constitutional Reform. Margaret was overheard despairing… “What is he on about? Somebody please stop him!” or words to that effect.
The invitation to Gough and Margaret was insisted upon by ‘Yuendumu’ despite the wishes of the incumbent Government to have the building opened by ‘one of theirs’
Occasionally we get our way.
Four years ago I wrote in a Dispatch:
On 4thApril 1968 Robert Kennedy was scheduled to make a campaign speech in Indianapolis, when he heard that Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated. He then discarded the speech that had been written for him. He ignored warnings of potential violence and announced the assassination to a predominantly black crowd, most of whom had not heard the news.
In his impromptu speech, Kennedy quoted his favorite poet, the ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus: “Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.”
That an elite college educated white man should quote an ancient Greek poet to a crowd of black ghetto(?) dwellers has been remarked and puzzled over ever since. Some have labeled it bizarre.
There were riots in 76 major U.S. cities. Indianapolis remained calm.
That an ex-Prime Minister that had been a keen student of the Greek classics, should address a crowd of predominantly Warlpiri people about Constitutional Reform may also be labelled as bizarre by some.
Nothing bizarre about not patronizing people.
That we didn’t understand Gough’s speech didn’t bother us. We are used to those in authority addressing us in unintelligible language.
….it doesn’t matter what your colour as long as you a true fellow….[ It doesn’t matter what your language as long….]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYLKGIf68So
A large number of painted shields were presented to Gough and Margaret. Never before nor after did I see such. A single shield yes, but not one from every family.
“Nyampu purlka-pardu yanurnu nyampu-kurra jirramaku.
Wangkaja nganpa jukarurru-nyayirni.
Purda-nyangu nganpa kanunju nyumpa-nyumparlu.
Wardinyi-jarrijarnalu pirrjirdi manu yinka-kurlu, kuja nganpa wangkaja.”
[This old man came here for us twice.
He spoke to us truthfully. He listened to us with deep concern.
We were happy with him, over the serious matters and laughing together when he spoke with us.]
Gough and Margaret were true fellows. From a Warlpiri perspective there is no higher praise.
Gough dared a Nation to dream. A dream of inclusiveness.
Οφείλουμε να Gough και τους εαυτούς μας για να ακολουθήσει αυτό το όνειρο